Restoring And Customising A Briefcase

[stonezebra]

If no burgundy is available then for the green interior I think I'd go with the Havana Brown or the Cream, and with the yellow interior either the Havana Brown or Mid-brown or, for a little snap, the Yellow. I'm sure the lucky recipient will love whatever you choose.

[my63]

If no burgundy is available then for the green interior I think I'd go with the Havana Brown or the Cream, and with the yellow interior either the Havana Brown or Mid-brown or, for a little snap, the Yellow. I'm sure the lucky recipient will love whatever you choose.

I have to be honest I don't think I like the green thread and will reconsider the options of course this has stopped the gluing of the lining until I make a decision.

 

In the mean time I have a new project to share with you all.

 

A few weeks ago I was asked by a FPN member to look at a case that belonged to a family friend who had served in WW 2 in the United States Army Air Force.

 

USAAF 1 case by my0771, on Flickr

 

USAAF2 case by my0771, on Flickr

 

USAAF3 case by my0771, on Flickr

 

We know the case was used in the second World War so it is at least 70 years old and some areas are quite worn as you would expect.

The stitching is coming apart as I have been cleaning and conditioning the leather.

The owner would like to bring the case up to a useable condition and I have agreed to do it.

 

I hope everyone enjoys the journey

[dcpritch]

That's the briefcase I sent to Michael in August. I'm excited he agreed to look it over and take on a restoration. The case has great sentimental value and having it made into something I can use (with great care, sort of like a valuable vintage pen), is fantastic. I look forward to seeing its progress.

[pen2paper]

A favorite tv show of the past was, "IF These Walls could Talk"...

I think that expresses the character seen above.

 

This next chapter looks interesting!

[my63]

After applying a few coats of mink oil to soften and condition the leather. I spent a few hours yesterday and this morning cutting out the old stitching to be honest I could have just pulled it apart but I have learned not to do that.

 

IMG_1279 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The next stage involves more mink oil and scraping all of the edges clean of old glue and pieces of thread as well as anything else that I might find.

 

I have also made some progress on the Pendragon case I have glued the green suede in place I used small paper clips at one end to hold the suede in place while I applied the glue once the glue was ready I folded the suede back into place and smoothed it out removing the clips

 

IMG_1277 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[my63]

I have finished the first stitching of the green Pendragon case

 

IMG_1284 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have to be totally honest I was not sure about the green thread but I really like it now.

 

IMG_1284 by my0771, on Flickr

[jsolares]

Nice!! that contrast on the pendragon looks really good, can't wait to see how both turn out.

[Anne-Sophie]

I have finished the first stitching of the green Pendragon case

 

IMG_1284 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have to be totally honest I was not sure about the green thread but I really like it now.

 

IMG_1284 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I had the same feelings about the green thread but those picture are just saying: mighty gorgeous!

 

Make sure to note the name and brand of the green suede because it is really the greatest of match with the thread and they both seem to be opening a dialogue between the past (represented by the vintage leather of the case) and the future (represented by the suede and the matching thread).

 

I think it works because the leather is just the right shade of caramel thus the thread and suede are like pistachio cream filing and cookie decorating lines.

[my63]

Thanks to you both I am at the point now where the centre divider and the gusset piece are sewn back together and I must decide if I am adding a strap or not and I can't decide.

[my63]

This is how I make straps rather than keep a whole hide for making straps I buy 1 inch strips of leather to make them with. It is slightly thicker than the normal leather I use. I have used the stitch grooving tool to make a grove for the stitching (self explanatory I know) the other tool in this picture is for removing the square corners left after cutting.

 

DSC_0001 by my0771, on Flickr

 

42 to 46 inches seems to be the ideal strap length the cut lengths I buy are around 48 inches long I use two to give me extra length to fix the trigger hooks and adjustment buckles as each one requires about two inches. As there are two of each then this will require 12 inches and then an allowance for the strap ends to pass through the buckles another 12 inches. To end up with a strap of 46 inches I need to have 70 inches of strapping.

 

Sewing is continuing

 

DSC_0079 by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1293[1] by my0771, on Flickr

Edited September 6, 2015 by my63

[my63]

I have started dying the straps this is very much guess work the case has many years of wear I think it may have been a saddle tan colour originally so I have started with that colour.

 

IMG_1303[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

As the dye is applied to wet leather I need to wait until tomorrow to see if it is anywhere near I think it might be a little too light however it is very easy to add more colour but almost impossible to remove it.

[my63]

I have also made some brackets or saddles to hold the "D" rings for the straps

 

IMG_1305[1] by my0771, on Flickr

[goatgolfer]

The USAAF case will be a highly interesting project if nothing else than for the nostalgia. I admire the ability to perform such reconstructive leather surgery and the stories, photos and emotion are inspiring. Thank you.

[my63]

Thanks Goatgolfer the USAAF case is currently being cleaned and scraped around the edges in preparation to have the new lining glued in place it is important to have it as clean as possible before I add the glue.

 

Here is the strap now dry if we went back 50 or 60 years I think the whole case would have been this colour it is a close match.

 

IMG_1313[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

The colour above is a 50 50 mix of saddle tan and dye reducer to give a lighter colour and reduce the risk of darker patches.

To get an aged effect I have lightly buffed the strap with carnauba wax and then lightly brushed with neat saddle tan dye

 

IMG_1317[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1314[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the look I was after please let me know what you think

 

Michael

[my63]

I am pretty happy with todays efforts different angles with flash I am trying to show the different tones in the leather I think the colour is a good match

 

IMG_1324[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

IMG_1322[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

Here are the mounting points for the strap

 

IMG_1331[1] by my0771, on Flickr

 

I can start to re assemble the case now and complete the strap with its buckles and straps on the first case I made the ends into nib shapes but I am not so sure if I should continue that feature or not.

 

[my63]

Last night I was looking for ideas for the strap like the positioning of buckles I have noticed that many of the leading makers only have buckles on one side for adjustment they also have a shoulder pad.

I am not to sure about the single buckle I quite like the matching buckles on either side but I do like the pad which I made last night.

 

DSC_0005 by my0771, on Flickr

[77kath]

I like the shoulder pad!

[my63]

Thanks 77kath I just need to match the colour do you think the inside should be suede or leather ?

[77kath]

Suede is softer, but it might rub off. I think I would prefer smooth Leather.

[goatgolfer]

Of all the pics and comments, I think I like the small details best, Shaving the corners, suede or smooth, saddle stitch... Fascinating to me.